Welcome to first and 10, a roundup of all the (mostly) Patriots-related news you need to start your Wednesday. Grab your coffee and let’s get to it.
--The Tom vs. Time epilogue is set for Wednesday at noon. Safe to say we're going to be breaking that thing down frame-by-frame shortly after that.
--Tony Corrente will work as the referee for Sunday's opener in Foxborough. Corrente has worked several notable New England games the last few years, including last year's dramatic regular-season contest in Pittsburgh.
The schedule for Wednesday:
11:30 a.m.: Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick Press Availability (Media Workroom)
Approx. 12 p.m.: Texans DE JJ Watt conference call (Patriots Media Workroom)
12:30 p.m.: Media Availability at Practice Until Team Drills (Lower Grass Fields)
4-4:45 p.m.: Approximate Time for Player Availability (Open Locker Room)
--Greg will be on with "Felger & Mazz" today from 2-4 p.m., and every Tuesday after that going forward. Listen live here.
Now, on with the links...
1. I got some one-on-one time with James White, and the running back opened up on a number of topics, including his thoughts on Ivan Fears comparing his football knowledge to Tom Brady, why he's more prepared than ever as a pass catcher, and the chance he could break the team record for most receptions in a season by a running back.
2. Former Patriots' assistant coach Pepper Johnson explained to me why he parted ways with the Patriots after the 2013 season. “I wanted to see what I would do away from Bill Belichick. So I decided to test the world and test the league and see what I could do. What happened was that I just got slapped in the face with a five-pound bag of flour."
3. Trent Brown wasn't at practice on Tuesday, but he has an excused absence, and is expected to start Sunday against Houston
4. We rolled out Miguel's cap pages by year -- 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
5. Miguel's Mailbag tackles a handful of topics, including cap info, as well as when guys get paid.
6. Video: Rob Gronkowski sounds happy with his new contract. saying that if he wasn't, he would take a page from Aaron Donald or Khalil Mack. "I’m super satisfied with my (contractual) situation," he said Tuesday afternoon. "I mean, if I wasn’t, then I would try and pull a move like they do which works out. They get rewarded for holding out. But I’m not frustrated at all or anything. I’m super satisfied and just ready to go, ready to play. That’s my main focus."
7. Brandon Bolden signed with the Dolphins.
8. Mike Reiss wonders where this group of receivers' stacks up when you consider others from Bill Belichick's tenure.
9. Phil Perry has more on Gronkowski and his thoughts on his new deal.
10. This has nothing to do with the Patriots or the Texans, but it's a really in-depth read at Andrew Luck's rehab. A fascinating story from Zak Keefer of the Indy Star. “I was a sad, miserable human,” said Luck of some of the low points he hit in his rehab. “I was not nice to myself, nor was I nice to anyone else. I was a miserable SOB to be around. I was nervous. I was scared.”
Extra Point: So Amara Darboh has had an interesting few weeks...
The past month been crazy but I never question Gods plan & the path he has set for me. Happy to say surgery went well??Now its time to get right for the 2019 season‼️ pic.twitter.com/XQzUBAEgJe
— Amara Darboh ?? (@Freetownsfinest) September 4, 2018